Hydraulic turbine



May 31, 1932.

F. NAGLER HYDRAULIC TURBINE Filed Aug. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 driven by said dynamo electric machine Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FORREST NAGLER, OF WAUWATOSA, WISCQNSIN, ASSIGNOR TO ALLIS-CHALMEBS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPQBATION OF DELAWARE HYDRAULIC TURBIN E Application filed August 8, 1930. Serial No. 474,037.

This invention relates in general to the art of hydraulic machines and relates more specifically to means for draining the inlet space between the runner of a hydraulic turloine and the flow control means when the latter is in closed position, and the runner driven independently of the hydraulic motive fluid.

An object of the invention is to provide means for eliminating the annular column of water which is formed by leakage past the flow control means of a hydraulic turbine which. would otherwise be churned around. within the confines of said control means by the runner when the alternator of the hydroelectric unit is operating as a synchronous condenser or in other words, as an overexcited synchronous motor, and constitute a drag on the unit representing a needless waste of power. It is desirable to have the flow control means operate against penstock pressure when the alternator of a hydro-electric unit comprising a hydraulic turbine directly connected to an alternator is operating as a synchronous condenser or as an overexcited synchronous motor to rotate the runner of the unit independently of the hydraulic niotive fluid. so that the flow control means need merely be opened by the governor when a sudden requirement for more tries. power ar. es to cause the alternatm: 01 unit to again operate as a generator to sup ply the increased power.

Another object of the invention to pro vide means for draining outside of the r". er

the

of a hydraulic machine directly connected to a dynamo electric machine when a hydroelectric unit constituted is clectricai atin for the time being as an o't'erexc sync hronous motor to boos the power factor of the line. which is simple and inexpensive to install and eflicient in operation. Other objects and advantages of the present inventi on will be apparent from a reading of the specification and the drawings accompanymg the specification and forming a part thereof.

. On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal vertical sectional View through the guide casing of a hydraulic turbine provided with one form of draining means.

2 is a partial plan "iew of the .le casing illustrated in Fig. 1, showing one of the guide vanes in transverse section.

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal vertical section of a guide casing similar to Fig. 1, provided with a modified form of draining means.

Fig. 4- is a fragmentary sectional View of the guide casing and draining means shown in Fig. 3 modified in that each vent in the guide casing top registers or communicates with a Vent in a guide vane, opening toward the inlet space when the guide vanes are in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal vertical section eta guide casing provided with another modified form of draining means.

6 is a partial longitudinal vertical section of a guide casing,- provided with a cylindrical gate and means for simultaneously draining inside and outside of the guide vanes.

Referring to F 1, 8 represents the top 9 the bottom which together form a do casing within which a runner detachwiy connected to the shaft 10 of a dynamo cctric machine, rotates. The runner eon.- is of a crown 3 tunes .2. depending irom and a hand 4;. he inner portions opposed faces of the crown 3 and band runner provide an axial portion while ihe outer portions of these faces are timed communicate with the annular assage between top 8 and the bottom 9 of the -=nide casing which passage is controlled by was. ea

power factor of the line to which it is paral- Gil leled. Between the runner crown. 3 and the top 8 of the guide casing is an enlarged clearance space 18. Another smaller clearance space 19 also at the outer diameter of the runner is provided between the band 4 and adjacent portion of the bottom 9 of the guide casing. Each of the guide vanes 6 is rovided with a vent 11 opening towards the inlet space between the rotating runner and the closed vanes 6. These vents in the closed position of the guide vanes 6 register with rts 16 leading into drain chamber 12 in the bottom 9 of the guide casing. One or more discharge pipes 13 having valves 14 directly controlled by the guide vanes 6 through mechanism 56 establishes communication between the chamber 12 and the draft tube 15. The mechanism 56 is so designed that the valves 14 will be o iened thereby when the guide vanes are in c osed position.

The operation of this form of venting means is as follows: While the shaft is driven by the alternator, not shown, operating as a synchronous condenser, that is, as an overexcited synchronous motor to boostthe power factor oi the line to which it is paralleled, and with air admitted into the draft tube to lower the tail-race level therein, below the runner, the runner will rotate and the centrifugal force thereby set up will cause a certain unit pressure to act upon unit mass of water that has leaked past the closed guide vanes 6 and which forms an. annular bed of water in the inlet space 5, between sai runner and said closed guide vanes. On the other side of this annular body of water, rotated at a certain speed by the runner, the unit pressure of the water in the conduit 7 will act. Water will continue to leak past the guide vanes 6 until the pressure due to the centrifugal force acting on the classes constitutin the body of water in inlet space 5 equals the unit pressure of the water in the conduit 7. The pressure in the body of water in inlet space 5 will then vary from atmospheric pressure at any point in the outer periphery of movement of the runner to conduit pressure at any point adjacent the inner surface of guide vanes 6. This water will drain through vents 11, ports 16, chamber 12, pipes 13 to the draft tube As this water drains the annular body of water in iniet space 5 becomes narrower, or in other words its inner diameter increases and the pressure at that increased diameter becomes atmospheric white the pressure the inner surface of the guide vanes is also decreased in the same proportion. This decrease in width of the annular body of water in inlet space 5 continues and the pres sure adjacent the inner surface of the guide vanes falls oi'i by adeiinite amount until no water is left in the space 5. The runner will then rotate merely against the relatively small resistance offered by the air filling space 5.

Now referring to Fig. 3, 24 is the top of the guide casing which has vent-s 25 communicating with inlet space 22 inside of the guide vane inner surfaces when the guide vanes 23 are in closed position, as shown. These vents communicate with the space above the runner crown 21 through pipes 2? controlled by valves 26. Valves 26 may be automatically operated from the guide vanes as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or be manually operated. Depending from the top 24 of the guide casing is a trough 28 which causes the water from pipes 27 to flow through the ports 29 in'the runner crown 21, ports 29 being preferably inclined in the direction of rotation of the runner, and thence into the draft tube. Reference numeral represents the runner vanes, 22 the inlet space, correspond ing to inlet space 5 of the modification illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, and 23 the guide vanes.

The 0 ration of this form of draining means ta es place under the same conditions and in the manner stated in the description of the operation of the draining means of Figs. 1 and 2. The water in this case, however, first flows from inlet s ace 22 upwardiy in vents 25, which may be Focated diametrically opposite each other, and then through pipes 27 over shelf 28 and onto the runner crown 21 and through ports 29 therein, into the draft tube, not shown.

Fig. 4 shows the draining means of Fig. 3 modified in that the vents instead of communicating directly with the inlet space 22 communicate therewith through the intermediary of vents 59 in the guide vanes. Vents 59 pen into the inlet space 22, as illustrated in n igs. 1 and 2, when the guide vanes are in closed position.

Fig. 5 shows means for draining through the runner clearance. This is accomplished by providing the bottom 3-1 of the guide casing with a assage or passages 36 leading into chamber 3 thereof and which are in open communication with clearance space between the outer diameter portion of the runner band 31 and the adjacent portion of the bottom 34 of the guide casing. Clearance 35 is made larger than the cleamncc space between the inner diameter portion of the runner band 31 and the adjacent draft tube portion 58. This clearance s ace communicates with. a pressure pocket un er the runner band 31, which serves to sustain some of the weight of the rotating runner. 30 represents the runner vanes, 33 the adjustable guide vanes and 32 the inlet space. 38 is a discharge pipe, of which a plurality may be provided, communicating at its upper end-with the chamber 37 and at its lower end with the draft tube, a. valve 39 being provided in each pipe 38, said valves being automatically opera-ble by the guide vanes as illustrated by Figs. 1 and '2 or manually, for the purpose of controlling" the communication between chamber 37 and the draft tube.

The operation of this form of draining means takes place under the same conditions and in the manner stated in the descriptions of the draining means of Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The water in inlet space 32 draining through clearance space 35, passages 36, chamber 37, pi s 38 and finally into the draft tube.

ig. 6 shows means for draining simultaneously inside and outside of the guide vane circle in a turbine provided with a cylindrical gate which may take the place of the usual butterfly shut-oil valve remote from the guide casing. 43 represents the runner crown, 42 the runner vanes and 53 the runner band. 8 is the top of the guide casing through which the upper portions of the guidevane pivots ass which are connected with the usual shi ting ring, not shown, by means of levers 49. The lower portions of the guide vane pivots are journaled in a guide vane ring 44 which engages with the basin rtion 50 of a discharge ring 45. The inlet conduit 57 is formed in part by the usual speed ring 47 A cylindrical gate which in its closed position rests upon the inner surface of the speed ring 47 slides in an annular slot between the top 8 of the guide casing and speed ring 47. Gate rods 41 may be provided for operating the ate and which reciprocate in and are guide by a suitable frame structure which may be integral with the top 8 of the guide casing. Stationary clearance or vent 54 is provided between the guide vane ring 44 and the adjacent portion of speed ring 47. This vent is outside of the guide vane circle when the guide vanes 48 are closed and therefore is not covered the guide vanes 48 in their closed position, she The leakage water held between the g1? vanes 48 and the closed cylindrical gate 0 is therefore, free to drain, due to the pressure of said water, through vent 54 into basin portion 50 and from there into the pipes 46 which em ty into the draft tube 55. While the water eaking into the inlet space between the inner surface of the guide vanes 48 and the outer peripheral portions of the runner is permitted to drain under the influence of its pressure and that due to gravity through the clearance space 51 bet ween the outer diameter portion of the runner band 53 and the ring 44, said ring being provided with pa sage 52 communicating with clearance space and the basin portion 50 of discharge ring so that the basin portion may also receive this water from which it flows with water pass ing through vent 54 into the draft tube 55 by means of pipes 46. By providing the cylindrical gate'40 as illustrated by the arrangement in Fig. 6 drainin may be done outside of the runner as genera ly illustrated in Figs.

addition thereto a simulof water collecting in a certain space outside oi the guide vanes 48 may be carried out.

By draining outside of the runners in hydraulic turbines having runners characterized by the fact that they tend to pump water 1, 3, 4 and 5 and in taneous draining outwardly towards the turbine inlet, as disclosed in this application, the efiiciency of a hydro-electric unit comprising such a hydraulic turbine directly connected to an alternator, when said alternator is operating as a synchronous condenser is materially enhanced. The draining eliminates the leakage water surrounding the rotating runner which would otherwise be a drag thereon which would represent a very appreciable waste of energy and unnecessary idle losses.

The valve operating mechanism 56 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be employed to operate the valves 26 and 39 of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, re spectively. The essential elements of mechanism 56 are a lever that is movable with a guide vane and a link pivotally connecting the free end of this lever with the lever of the discharge valve in such a manner so that the discharge valves in the drain pipes will be open when the guide vanes are in closed position.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and de scribed, for obvious modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a hydro-electric unit com rising a hydraulic machine direct-connecte to a dynamo electric machine, a casing defining an annular passage, a runner rotatable within said casing and located radially within said passage, flow control means in said passage and means for draining the space between the runner periphery and said flow control means when the latter is in closed position and the unit electrically driven by said dynamo electric machine,

:2. in a hydro-electric unit comprising a hydraulic machine direct-connected to a dynamo electric machine, a casing defining an annular passage, a runner rotatable within said casing and located radially within said passage, a plurality of adjustable members in said passage and means including vents in said. members for draining the space between the runner periphery and said members when they are in closed position and the unit is electrically driven by said dynamo electric machine.

3. In a hydro-electric unit com rising a hydraulic machine direct-connecte to a dyname electric machine, a casing defining an annular passage, a runner rotatable within said casing and. located radially within said passage, an annular series of adjustable guide vanes in said passage and means including vents in said guide vanes for drainin the space between the runner periphery an said guide vanes when they are in closed osition and the unit is electrically driven by said dynamo electric machine.

4. In a hydro-electric unit com rising a hydraulic machine direct-connecte to a dynamo electric machine, a casing definin an annular passage, a runner rotatable within said casin and located radially within said passage, ow control means in said passage and means including a vent in the top wall of said casing for draining the space between the runner periphery and said flow control means when the latter is in closed osition and the unit is electrically driven y said dynamo electric machine.

5. In ahydro-electric unit comprising a hydraulic machine direct-connected to a dynamo electric machine, a casing having a top and defining an annular passage, a runner rotatable within said casing and located radially within said passage, an annular series of adjustable guide vanes in said assage and means including a vent in said casing top for draining the space between the runner periphery and said guide vanes when they are in closed position and the unit is electrically driven by said dynamo electric machine.

6. In a hydro-electric unit com rising a hydraulic machine direct-connecte to a dynamo electric machine, a casing defining an annular passa e, a runner rotatable within said casing an located radially within said passage, an enlarged clearance space between said runner and the bottom wall of said casing, flow control means in said assage and means including a passage in the ottom wall of said casing, communicatin with said run ner clearance space for draining the space between the runner periphery and said flow control means when the latter is in closed position and the unit is electrically drivenby said dynamo electric machine.

7. In a hydro-electric unit com rising a hydraulic machine direct-connecte to a dy namo electric machine, a casing having a bottom and defining an annular passage, a runner rotatable within said casing and located radially within said passage an enlarged clearance space between sai runner and said casing bottom, an annular series of adjustable guide vanes in said passage and means including a passage in said casing bottom, communicating with said runner clear ance space for draining the s ace between the runner periphery and said guide vanes when they are in closed position and the unit is electrically driven by said dynamo electric machine.

8. In a hydro-electric unit comprising a hydraulic machine direct-connected to a dynamo electric machine, a casing defining an annular pass 0 a runner rotatable within said casin J15 located radially within said passage, ow control means in said passage and means including vents in said flow control means for draining the s ace between the runner periphery and said tibw control means when the latter is in closed ition and the unit is electrically driven y said dynamo electric machine.

9. In a hydro-electric unit com risin a hydraulic machine direct-connecte to a %ynamo electric machine, a casing defining an annular passage, a runner rotatable within said casing and located radially within said passage, flow control means in said passage, another flow control means in said passage surrounding and spaced from said former flow control means, and means for drainin the spaces between the runner periphery an said latter flow control means when the flow control means are in closed position and the unit is electrically driven by said dynamo electric machine.

In testimon whereof, the signature of the inventor is a xed hereto.

FORREST NAGLER. 

